List of perished priests and ministers of Christian churches in Ukraine

This document provides only a part of the evidence of attacks on religious figures, including murder, torture and deliberate abuse, from the array of war crimes committed by the Russian military in Ukraine between 2014 and 2023 that we were able to document. Many victims are not ready to talk publicly about the horrors they have experienced, either through shame, or through danger to themselves if they stay in the occupied territory, or through fear for their relatives, who may be massacred, given the reality of the threats of the Russian occupation authorities.

Through hyperlinks, readers can see a description of what happened, with reference to video of testimonies or news articles about war crimes, crimes of genocide and against humanity, for which the Russian Federation should be held accountable under international humanitarian law.

Seventh-day Adventists

1. Kobernik Olexandr, pastor of the Seventh-day Adventists Church (20.10.2022)

Olexandr Kobernik, born in 1970 — A graduate of the Faculty of Philology of Simferopol State University, a primary school teacher and a teacher of the Ukrainian language and literature, a pastor (since 1999) of the Western Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Head of Education Department, Western Conference. Creator (2011) and director of the private lyceum «Living Word». Married, three children.

He became a volunteer, served in the ranks of the 125th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Senior Combat Medic.

He died on October 20, 2022 on the front line.

Source: Religious Information Service of Ukraine, Western Conference of the Seventh-day Adventists Church.

Evangelical Christian Baptists

2. Bilotserkivskyi Yevhen, pastor of Evangelical Christian Baptists (18.09.22)

Yevhen Bilotserkivskyi became the pastor of the Evangelical Christian Baptists “Salvation” Church in 2019. In June 2022 he turned 41, he was married, had two sons and a daughter. The regional association of the All-Ukrainian Union of Churches of Evangelical Christian Baptists wanted to transfer regional ministry to Yevhen Bilotserkivskyi, but the war prevented this.

He fell under occupation and continued his pastoral ministry in the village of Kupyansk-Vuzlovyi, Kharkiv region. The village was liberated from occupation, but was under fire from the retreating Russian troops. On September 18, 2022, the pastor went out into the yard to do housework, and a shell fragment hit him in the heart, as a result of which he died.

Source: All-Ukrainian Union of Evangelical Christian Baptists

3. Charkashyn Alies, chaplain of the Evangelical Christian Baptists, Belarus (28.08.2015)

Alies Charkashyn, born in 1982 — a parishioner of the Evangelical Christian Baptists Church «Salvation» in Brest, Belarus, a student of the Tauride Christian Institute in Kherson, a Belarusian volunteer, chaplain of the Evangelical Christian Baptists. Activist of the national movement of Belarus. Member of the sports and patriotic organization Kray, activist of the Zubr movement. Since 2009 — in the organization «Belarusian Christian Democracy», elected chairman of the Brest city branch of the organization. He participated in a number of actions of democratic forces, for which he was repeatedly detained by the police of Belarus.

In 2014, he volunteered to join the Ukrainian Volunteer Corps «Right Sector», was a member of the «Belarus» tactical group of the 1st assault company of the 5th separate battalion, and acted as a chaplain. Since January 2015, he participated in the anti-terrorist operation in the east of Ukraine. Call sign «Taras». Participated in the battles for the Donetsk airport, in the village of Peski, Yasynuvatskyi district, Donetsk region, near the city of Mariupol, Donetsk region.

On August 10, 2015, he received severe shrapnel wounds in a battle near the village of Bila Kaminka, Telmanovskyi (now Boykovskyi) district, Donetsk region. On August 28, 2015, he died in a hospital in Zaporizhzha from the consequences of injuries.

Awarded the Order «People’s Hero of Ukraine» (2016).

Source: Ukrainian Memorial

4. Korniichuk Roman, seminaran and minister (09.22.2023)

Roman Korniichuk, 35 years old, a resident of the city of Rivne from a large family, a student at the Ukrainian Baptist Theological Seminary, a minister for teenagers and youth in a local church.

He was mobilized into the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on February 23, 2022. The new military man turned out to be one of the best shooters among those with whom he studied. The 35-year-old hero was killed by an enemy shell on September 22, 2023 near the city of Krasnohorivka, Donetsk region while saving a wounded sworn brother.

Source: Instagram of the Ukrainian Baptist Seminary, TV-Rivne

5. Marynchenko Oleh, deacon of the Evangelical Christian Baptists (18.10.2022)

Oleh Marynchenko, born in 1965 — senior deacon, Evangelical Christian Baptist, chaplain. Active participant of Euromaidan. Married, one daughter.

At the front since 2014. Combat medic (callsign «Architect») and chaplain of the 3rd company of the 206th separate battalion of the 112th separate brigade of the territorial defense of Kyiv. On February 25, 2022 was seriously wounded, two months later he returned to the unit.

He died on August 18, 2022 in the Kherson region from a large-caliber Russian mine hitting a dugout, where he provided emergency assistance to wounded colleagues. He covered four servicemen with his body and thereby saved their lives.

Source: Censor.net

6. Makhniuk Mykhailo, deacon of the Evangelical Christian Baptists (08.10.2022)

Mykhailo Makhniuk, born in 1973 — deacon of the Church «Rock of Salvation» in Siversk, Bahmut district, Donetsk region, Evangelical Christian Baptist, volunteer. Married, five children.

He died on October 8, 2022 in Siversk, where he came with charitable assistance — he fell under the Russian shelling while covering the roof of the House of Prayer with a film.

Source: Free Radio

7. Taranenko Vitaly, choir member at the Church of the Resurrection (10.04.2024)

Vitaly Taranenko, 40 years old; choir member at the Church of the Resurrection (pastor Vyacheslav Shcherbakov) in Chernomorsk, Odesa oblast; married, father of three children.

He was killed in a missile attack in Chernomorsk on 10 April 2024.

Source: Website of the Odesa Oblast Association of ECB.

Evangelical Free Church of Ukraine

8. Fominykh Anatoliy, Evangelical chaplain (25.11.2023)

Anatoliy Fominykh, a member of the New Life Church in Kyiv (Evangelical Free Church of Ukraine), father of five children.

Fominykh served as a chaplain in the Ukrainian Armed Forces. He died near Bakhmut on 25 November 2023. The farewell service took place on 9 December 2023 in a church in Kyiv.

Source: the New Life Church on Facebook, LOGOS Telegram channel

Orthodox Church of Ukraine

9. Chybeneiev Valerii, student of the Kyiv Orthodox Theological Academy of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (03.03.2022)

Valerii Chybeneiev, born in 1988 — Major of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (call sign «Karakurt»), commander of a company of snipers of the 79th separate air assault brigade. Hero of Ukraine (2016), Honorary Citizen of Berdyansk.

Raised in a boarding school, graduated from the Odessa Academy of Ground Forces. He studied by correspondence at the theological faculty of the Kyiv Orthodox Theological Academy of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

He was at the front since 2014. As part of the 1^st airmobile assault battalion, he participated in the liberation of the Krasnyi Lyman of the Donetsk region. Participated in battles in the Biryukove area in the Luhansk region, near Izvaryne, defended the Donetsk airport.

He died on March 3, 2022 near Hostomel, having come under fire from the Russian side.

Source: UkrInform

10. Dudarenko Rostyslav, Archpriest of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (05.03.2022)

Rostyslav Dudarenko, priest of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine in the village of Yasnohorodka, Fastivskyi district, Kyiv region, 40 kilometers west of Kyiv.

He helped the civilian volunteers who served the checkpoint at the entrance to their city. On March 5, 2022, when Russian soldiers started shooting at unarmed civilians, Fr. Rostyslav raised a cross over his head, trying to protect them. Then he was shot.

Source: Religious-information Service of Ukraine

11. Kozachyn Maksym, clergyman of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (27.02.22)

Maksym Kozachyn, born in 1979 — rector of the parish of the Nativity of the Holy Mother of God of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine in the village of Rozvazhiv, Ivankiv district, Kyiv region, chaplain during the first phase of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

He was born in Novomoskovsk, Dnipropetrovsk region. In 2000, he graduated from the Kyiv Theological Seminary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, became a priest of the Nativity of the Holy Mother of God parish in the village of Rozvazhiv, Ivankiv District, Kyiv Region, which is currently under the jurisdiction of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

He was shot on February 27, 2022, when he was leaving the village in his car. He was dragged out of the cabin and shot.

Source: Censor.Net

12. Kysliuk Olexandr, teacher of the Kyiv Theological Academy of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (05.03.2022)

Olexandr Kysliuk, born in 1962 — a graduate of the History Faculty of the Taras Shevchenko State (now National) University of Kyiv; polyglot-translator, teacher of modern foreign and ancient languages (German, Ancient Greek, Church Slavonic) at the Kiev Theological Academy and Seminary of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine; senior lecturer at the of Theory and History of State and Law Department of the Institute of Political Science and Law of the National Drahomanov Pedagogical University.

Lived in Irpin, was under occupation. He was shot on March 5, 2022 by Russian troops in his own house in Irpen. His twin brother buried him in the yard near the house. A few months after the de-occupation of the Kyiv region, the administration of Irpin carried out a reburial at the local cemetery.

Source: Suspilne

13. Platon (Morgunov), chaplain, hegumen of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (11.03.2022)

Hegumen Platon (civil name Roman Morgunov), 44 years old — hegumen of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine. He was born in the Far North of Russia, in Vorkuta, and spent his childhood in Toretsk, Donetsk region.

With the outbreak of war in the East, Ukraine went to serve as a chaplain in the 53rd mechanized brigade named after Prince Volodymyr Monomakh, spending five years in this service. Participated in the fighting near Svitlodarsk and Volnovakha.

He was tonsured a monk in the St. Theodosius Monastery in Kyiv, served in the St. Yuryi Monastery in the Virlya tract near the city of Kremenets, Ternopil Region, in the Vvedensky Monastery in the city of Sambir, Lviv Region, and for a long time served in St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery.

He was killed by soldiers in the occupied Volnovakha, Donetsk region, on March 11, 2022. He was buried in Sambir in the Lviv region.

Source: Fakty.UA

14. Podolchak Stepan, archpriest of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (15.02.2024)

Very Rev. Stepan Yaroslavovich Podolchak, 59-year-old, parish priest of the church of All Saints of the Ukrainian Land in the village of Kalanchak, Skadovsky district, Kherson oblast.

The priest found himself under occupation in Kherson oblast.

Two days before the murder, the priest was taken out of his house. On 15 February, his wife received a call to come for identification. The priest was shot in Kalanchak.

According to Serhy Danilov, who worked on projects to support civil society in Kherson Region from 2014, and who spoke with Forum 18, the men who seized Fr Stepan were from the Russian Interior Ministry’s Centre for Countering Extremism. Although, the death certificate issued to the family claimed that Fr Stepan had died of a heart attack, Podolchak’s body showed signs of bruising and traces of having been in handcuffs, the head had a bullet-wound, according to Danilov. Forum 18 tried to do own investigation about the death of the priest.

Sources: Center for Investigative Journalism, Facebook of OCU Bishop of Kherson and Tavria Boris (Kharko), Forum 18.

15. Pymen (Pepryk), hieromonk of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (22.07.2022)

Hieromonk Pymen (civil name Roman Pepryk), born in 1992, took the holy order at the monastery of St. Nektarios of Aegina (Orthodox Church of Ukraine).

Twice since the beginning of Russian aggression (2014 and 2022), while maintaining monasticism, he went to the front as a soldier to defend Ukraine. After the first service, he returns to the monastery, where he becomes a hierodeacon, and later a hieromonk. After some time, he was transferred to a monastery in Transcarpathia, from where, with the beginning of a new Russian invasion of Ukraine, he goes to the front. Sniper of the 1st category of the sniper department of the military unit A4221. He served in the 129th separate reconnaissance battalion.

He died on July 22, 2022 near the village of Apostolove, Krivyi Rih district, Dnipropetrovsk region, in a result of Russian rocket fire.

Source: Galician correspondent

16. Tsykun Olexandr, graduate of Rivne Theological Seminary (24.03.2022)

Olexandr Tsykun, born in 1998 — A graduate (2017) of the Rivne Theological Seminary of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, he also studied at the Theological Academy.

Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he went to serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

He died at the front on March 24, 2022. He was buried in the village of Stavok near Kostopoil in the Rivne region.

Source: LB.ua

17. Yakymenko Artem, subdeacon of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (31?.10.2022)

Artem Yakymenko, born in 1984 — Senior Subdeacon under the Archbishop of Kherson Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

Was in the temporarily occupied Kherson. At the end of October 2022, communication with him disappeared, and a week later information appeared about the body being in the morgue. He was later identified. The circumstances of death are unknown.

Source: Spiritual Front

18. Zvarychuk Myron, priest of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (March 2022)

Myron Zvarychuk — a priest of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, originally from Ivano-Frankivsk, the village of Rosilna; served in the St. Michael’s Golden-domed Monastery in Kyiv, lived in Bucha, rented a room in the house of an elderly woman, whom he took care of.

He fell under occupation, the communication with him was lost on March 3, when the occupation troops entered Yablunska Street in Bucha. Zvarychuk went to the volunteers for food and water, but did not return home. According to the investigation, the Russian military knew that he was Ukrainian-speaking and a priest, they chased him down the street, he ran away. After the de-occupation of Bucha on April 3, 2022, photographer Christopher Occhicone took a scary shot for the Wall Street Journal — the body of a man with a gunshot wound to the head lies in a car viewing hole. Zvarychuk’s son identified his father from this photograph, and at the end of April, the identification took place in person.

Source: Mediazona

Roman Catholic Church of Ukraine

19. Zavistovsky Mykhailo, altar boy of the Roman Catholic Church of Ukraine (?.08.2024)

Mykhailo Vyacheslavovych Zavistovsky (b. 2001), altar boy of the Catholic Church of Christ the King of the Universe in Zviahel, Zhytomyr oblast, youth community member.

Zavistovsky served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He died in August 2024. The funeral conducted by Bishop Vitaliy Kryvytskyi SDB of the Kyiv-Zhytomyr Diocese was held in the Church of Christ the King of the Universe.

Source: Bishop Vitaliy Kryvytskyi’s Facebook.

Ukrainian Orthodox Church

20. Alipii (Bondar), Hierodeacon of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (03.06.2022)

Hierodeacon Alipiy (civil name Bondar Anton) was born on July 2, 1984 in the village Doroshenkove, Velykoburlukskii district, Kharkiv region. In 2002 he graduated from the Engineering College of Kharkiv (specialty — junior economist).

In October 2003, Anthon Bondar was accepted into the brethren of the Holy Dormition Sviatohirsk Monastery. On April 6, 2007, he was tonsured as a monastic by Bishop Arsenii of Sviatohirsk with the name Apollinarii. On April 19, 2011, he was tonsured into a mantle with the name Alipii. On March 24, 2013, on the Sunday of the Triumph of Orthodoxy, he was ordained a hierodeacon at the Dormition Cathedral of the Sviatohirsk Lavra.

For many years father Alipii served as a bookkeeper for Metropolitan Arsenii, in a sewing and laundry workshop.

On June 1, 2022, on the eve of the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord, he was seriously injured as a result of shelling of the fraternal cells of the Sviatohirsk Lavra. Two days later, on June 3, 2022, he died in the Kramatorsk hospital. Hierodeacon Alipii is buried in the skit of St. John of Shanghai, on the day of whose memory he was born.

Together with Hierodeacon Alipii, several more monks and nuns of the monastery were killed or wounded.

Source: Portal «Orthodox Life»

21. Arystoklii (Khashchyna), monk of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (01.06.2022)

Monk Aristoklii (civil name Khashchyna Andrii) was born on June 29, 1979 in Dnipropetrovsk in a family of a worker, in 2001 he graduated from the Faculty of Applied Economics of the Prydniprovsk National University. He was a parishioner of the Holy Tikhvin Convent, then carried the choir obedience in the Trinity Cathedral in Dnipropetrovsk and in the parish church of St. Kseniia of Rome.

In August 2001, he was enrolled as a novice among the brethren of the Holy Dormition Sviatohirsk Lavra, in 2003 he was tonsured a monk with the name Avksentii, in 2004 he became a monk with the name Arystoklii.

In the monastery he carried out constant obedience to the kliros, worked in the sewing workshop of the Lavra.

On June 1, 2022, shelling of the fraternal corps of the Sviatohirsk Lavra took place, as a result of which several shells exploded directly in the cells of the 3rd and 4th corps. At this time, the brothers and sisters who moved to the Lavra from the destroyed skit of Bohorodychne village, were in the cells after the meal, preparing for the all-night vigil of the feast of the Ascension of the Lord. As a result of the blow, the monk Arystoklii died.

Together with the monk Arystoklii, several other monks and nuns living in the monastery died.

Source: Portal «Orthodox Life».

22. Bormashev Volodymyr, Archpriest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (28.03.2022)

Volodymyr Bormashev, rector of the church of St. Nicholas in Irpin, Kyiv region, archpriest. Despite the danger, the priest tried not to leave his place of service until the last.

The priest was seriously wounded on March 23 as a result of an explosion while trying to evacuate from Irpin. For five days he was unconscious in Kyiv’s Okhmatdyt hospital, despite the operation and attempts by doctors to save his life.

On March 28, 2022, Archpriest Volodymyr Bormashev died.

Source: Information Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church

23. Dionisii (Tyviakov), Archimandrite of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (14.11.2022)

Archimandrite Dionisii (civil name Denis Tyviakov), born in 1979. In 1999 he was ordained a deacon, in 2001 he was ordained a priest and tonsured a monk with the name Dionisii in honor of St. Dionisii of Suzdal. Served as a priest in St. Mykola Cathedral in Alchevsk and St. Mykola Cathedral in Stakhaniv, in the occupied territory of the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic.

He died on November 14, the exact circumstances of his death are not known.

Source: UOJ

24. Feodosii (Honcharov), hieromonk of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (March 2022)

Hegumen Feodosii (Honcharov), born in 1976, rector of the Holy Trinity Church in the village of Hrabovka, Kulykivka deanery of the Chernihiv diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Died from shrapnel wounds as a result of shelling, presumably on the first day of the offensive of Russian troops in the Chernihiv region, i.e. February 24, 2022. His death became known on March 2, 2022.

Source: Official website of the Chernihiv diocese

25. Fomin Nikolai, Archpriest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (22.01.2024)

Very Rev. Nikolai Fomin was the confessor of the Kurakhovka deanery, a priest of the St Blessed Xenia of Petersburg church in the village of Zoryanoye, Maryinsky district.

Very Rev. Fomin was killed on 22 January 2024 during the shelling of the village of Kurakhovka, Donetsk oblast. On 24 January, the funeral of the deceased priest took place in the town of Gornyak, Pokrovsky district.

Source: telegram channel of the Pokrovsky Vicariate

26. Halaktion (Vuichenko), Archimandrite of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (01.06.2022)

Archimandrite Halaktion (civil name Vuichenko Heorgii), born in 1973 Dean of the Holy Dormition Sviatohirsk Lavra of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Born in Kramatorsk, graduated from the Kramatorsk Engineering College with a degree in Operation of Industrial Robots and Robotic Complexes, after completing his studies at the technical school, he worked as an electrician of the 5th category for the repair of electrical equipment. At the same time, at the local parish, he helped in the construction of the Nativity of the Mother of God Church in Kramatorsk, where he later became a bell ringer. In June 1998, he entered the Sviatohirsk Holy Dormitory Monastery for obedience, and in July of the same year he was enrolled in the staff of the brethren of the monastery. In 1999 by the abbot of the Holy Dormitory Monastery Archimandrite Arsenii novice Heorgii Vuichenko was tonsured in the Intercession Church in monasticism with the name Hurii, and in 2000 – in a mantle with the name Halaktion and was ordained a hierodeacon by Metropolitan Hilarion of Donetsk and Mariupol, and in 2001 – to the rank of hieromonk. Since 2004 – abbot, since 2007 – archimandrite. He performed various obediences in the Holy Dormition Sviatohirsk Lavra. He was the head of skit of St. Anthony and Feodosii of the Kiev Caves, since 2010 – dean of the monastery. He performed his last divine service on the last day of Easter celebration.

Together with Archimandrite Halaktion, several other monks and nuns living in the monastery died.

Source: Portal «Orthodox Life».

27. Herman, monk of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (21.05.2022)

A resident of the Holy Dormition Mykola-Vasylevskyi Monastery of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, located near Volnovakha in the Donetsk region. He carried the obedience of a beekeeper in the apiary.

On May 21, 2022, he died is a result of a mine explosion. On May 22, his funeral service took place.

Source: Information Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

28. Hubenko Vitalii, chaplain of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (25.01.2019)

Vitali Hubenko, born in 1965. Graduate of the Theological Seminary, chaplain, call sign «Father». He was a volunteer, an ensign of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a participant in the Russian-Ukrainian war, a shooter of the 25th separate motorized rifle battalion «Kievan Rus».

He died on January 25, 2019 near the village of Katerynivka, Popasna district, Luhansk region, as a result of shelling of a military vehicle from an anti-tank guided missile. He was buried on January 28 in the village of Sofiivska Borshchahivka.

Source: Wikipedia

29. Ivanna (Melnyk), nun of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (03.06.2022)

Nun Ivanna (civil name Tetiana Melnyk), born in 1981, a nun of the Lavra monastery of the Sviatohirsk Lavra in honor of the icon of the Mother of God «Joy of All Who Sorrow» in the village Bohorodychne. Born in Konstiantynivka, Donetsk region, graduated from the Konstiantynivka School of Arts, Faculty of Philology, Donetsk National University (in absentia), worked as a drawing teacher in a secondary school and taught Russian language and literature.

In 2011, she entered the obedience at the Lavra skit in the village Bohorodychne, and in 2015 she took monastic vows with the name Ivanna. The skit was destroyed as a result of hostilities, moved to the Sviatohirsk Lavra.

On June 1, 2022, shelling of the fraternal corps of the Sviatohirsk Lavra took place, as a result of which several shells exploded directly in the cells of the 3rd and 4th corps. At this time, the brothers and sisters who moved to the Lavra from the destroyed skit of Bohorodychne village were in the cells after the meal, preparing for the all-night vigil of the feast of the Ascension of the Lord. As a result of the blow, nun Ivanna was seriously injured, and for the next two days she was in the Kramatorsk hospital, where she died on June 3, 2022.

Together with nun Joanna, another nun and several monks living in the monastery died.

Source: Portal «Orthodox Life».

30. Kaplun Bohdan, priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (16.07.2022)

Bohdan Kaplun, 29, a priest at the Church of St. Agapit of the Pechersk Doctor in Dnipro on the territory of the Dnipro Hospital No. 6, volunteered for the front after the start of a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. Married, wife Ulliana, two sons – Bohdan (8 years old) and Anatolii (6 years old).

The son of Archpriest Anatolii Kaplun, rector of the church in the village of Zhovtyi Yar, Tatarbunary charitable district of the Odessa diocese. Five brothers, one of them also serves in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He graduated from the Odessa Theological Seminary in 2013, took orders in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, was sent to serve in the village of Turia, Kirovohrad region, and in 2017 moved to Dnipro. In April 2022, he went to serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine as a paramedic.

Communication with him was lost on July 14. He died on July 16, 2022 is a result of a Russian mine hitting the dugout where he was.

Source: Suspilne

31. Konstantinov Mikhail, clergyperson of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (02.07.2024)

Mikhail Konstantinov, 25 years old, a clergyperson, since childhood — a sexton in the St Seraphim Church of the UOC in the village of Kalinovka in the Koretsky district of the Rivne oblast (Rivne eparchy).

«Mikhail never left the church. When he came on vacation, he visited our church, confessed and received the Eucharist. The death of Mikhail is a great and irreparable loss for our church community,» said the rector of the parish, Archimandrite Harvryil (Kovalchuk).

Konstantinov joined the Ukrainian army. He died from fatal wounds received from an explosion of ammunition dropped from a drone in the Luhansk region on 2 July 2024. The funeral took place in the village of his birth on 16 July 2024.

Source: Rivne Eparchy

32. Kreslianskyi Volodymyr, Archpriest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (31.07.2014)

Volodymyr Kresliansky, born in 1963, Archpriest, cleric of the Luhansk St. George Church in the village of Velyka Verhunka, Luhansk diocese, married, five children.

In early May 2014, during the first phase of the Russian invasion in Ukraine, he sent his family to Russia. On July 31, 2014, he performed an evening service in the Luhansk Umilenskii Church. On the way home, on Chapaiv Street in Luhansk, he was caught by a bombardment.

According to some testimonies, he approached the neighbors whose house was bombed and gave them ribbons with the prayer “Alive in help”, crosses and told them to pray, not to despair. After the explosion of the first two bombs, he was seriously wounded in the chest and left arm. Pressing the wound in his chest, he left the passage between the houses on Chapaiv Street, knelt down and began to pray, crossing himself with his healthy right hand, and died like that. There is a photograph of a priest in a cassock found in prostration. According to some reports, the remaining six cluster bombs that were falling on a residential area at the time did not detonate. He was buried on the territory of the Ascension Church.

Source: Open Orthodox Encyclopedia «Tree»

33. Kulbaka Olena, singer of the church choir of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (02.03.2022)

Olena Kulbaka, worked as a teacher of solfeggio and musical literature at the Horlovka Music School No. 1; and also sang in the choir of the Epiphany Cathedral in Horlovka, Donetsk region.

On February 28, 2022, she came under fire, was seriously wounded – a penetrating wound to the abdominal cavity, a shrapnel wound to the right thigh and a severe traumatic shock. She was taken to the hospital, where she died on March 2, 2022, despite attempts by doctors to save her.

Source: website of the Horlovka diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church

34. Lobanov Anatoly, sexton of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (10.21.2023)

Anatoly Lobanov, sexton of the Holy Great Martyr Ioan Sochavskyi church in Luzhany, Chernivtsi-Bukovina eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Lobanov died on the military front on 21 October 2023. The funeral service took place in his church on 29 October 2023; it was led by the dean of the Kitsman district, Mitred Archpriest Nikolai Zelenyuk.

Source: Press Office of the Chernivtsi-Bukovina eparchy of the UOC.

35. Matviienko Mykola, deacon, non-resident cleric of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (February 2023)

Mykola Matviienko is from the village of Garazdzha, Lutsk district, Volyn region. In 2014 he graduated from the Volyn Theological Seminary. After getting married, he was ordained a deacon in the Volodymyr-Volyn Dormition Cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. After some time he left the staff.

He worked in Lutsk at a factory, from where he was drafted into the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Had a baby.

Killed in the battles near Bakhmut in February 2023.

Source: Union of Orthodox Journalists

36. Nadvulychnyi Yevhen, altar man of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, wife and children (27.02.2022)

Yevhen Nadvulychnyi, born in 1983, a native of the Donetsk region. From 2002 to 2008 he studied at the Ukrainian State Academy of Railway Transport in Kharkiv. Upon graduation he worked on the Donetsk railway at the Yasinovataya station. In 2008, he married Olena Kopyltsova, son Vladyslav was born in 2009, Alexei in 2014, daughter Lisa was born in 2018.

In 2015, Nadvulychnyi became a parishioner of the Holy Ozerianskyi Church in Kharkiv, and soon a sexton, the eldest and youngest sons also served at the altar.

On February 27, 2022, they returned from the Divine Liturgy by car, where, in addition to the Nadvulychnyi family, there was also Volodymyr Valuiskyi, regent and psalmist of the small choir. In a result of shelling by the Russian troops of the city, one of the shells hit their car. Everyone in the car was killed.

Source: Website of the Holy Ozerianskyi Church in Kharkov

37. Nikyshov Heorhii, priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (28.07.2014)

Heorhii Nikyshov, born in 1964, clergyman of the Severodonetsk diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, cleric of the Peter and Paul Church in Pervomaisk, Luhansk region.

He died on July 28, 2014 from a shrapnel wound as a result of active hostilities.

Source: Blahovest-Info

38. Ostroushko Viktor, sexton of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (20.09.2022)

Ostroushko Viktor, born in 1956(57?), sexton in the parish in honor of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God of the city of Toretsk, Bakhmut district, Donetsk region. Married, daughter.

On September 20, 2022, during the dismissal of the all-night vigil on the eve of the feast of the Nativity of the Virgin, the temple was shelled. Victor ran out into the street, where he died from a shell that fell near the temple.

Source: Horlivka and Sloviansk diocese

39. Palahniuk Mykola, Archpriest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (13.06.2023)

Archpriest Mykola Palahniuk, 72 years old, Archpriest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, rector of the church of St. John the Baptist in the village of Bilozerka, Kherson region, dean of the Bilozersk district of the Kherson diocese.

On June 13, 2023, he distributed humanitarian aid to flood-affected residents on the territory of the temple, when the village was shelled by Russian artillery. The temple was damaged, and the priest died.

Source: UOJ, Facebook of Archpriest Heorgii Huliaev.

40. Parfenii (Fedorchenko), hieromonk of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (03.05.2022)

Parfenii (civil name Oleksii Fedorchenko), born in 1958, hieromonk of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, acting head (2020) of the St. Illia Monastery in the village of Varvarivka, Luhansk region and rector of the church in honor of St. Feodosii of Chernigov in the village of Mikhalivka (Rubezhany deanery).

On May 3, 2022, he received a shrapnel wound as a result of the shelling of the village of Mikhalivka, from which he died.

Source: Ukrainian Orthodox Church

41. Podoley Pavel, Archpriest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (08.08.2024)

Archpriest Pavel Podoley (b. 1984), rector of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary parish in the village of Chereivtsi, Mukachevo region (Mukachevo eparchy of the UOC).

Podoley served as a soldier in the 101st TRO brigade. He died on 8 August 2024. His funeral service took place on 16 August 2024 in the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary of the Mukachevo eparchy.

Source: Mukachevo eparchy of the UOC.

42. Savva, schema-nun of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (31.01.2023)

Schema-nun Savva, 84 years old, resident of the Holy Dormition Mykola-Vasylevskyi Monastery (village of Mykilske, Volnovakha district, Donetsk region).

On January 31, 2023, the Holy Dormition Mykola-Vasylevskyi Monastery was subjected to shelling from large-caliber guns, which left through holes in buildings up to 1 meter in diameter. About 3-4 rockets «pierced» the building of the nursing corps during the day, they were completely destroyed. The aged schema-nun Savva was seriously wounded, and she refused the general evacuation. She was taken to the hospital, but could not be saved.

She was buried in the Kasperivskyi Monastery.

Source: telegram channel of the Holy Dormition Mykola-Vasylevskyi Monastery

43. Stohniy Oleksiy, Archpriest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (16.07.2024)

Archpriest Oleksiy Stohniy (b. 1971) — a cleric of the Holy Protection Church of the Kremenchuk eparchy of the UOC.

Having been called up to the ranks of the Ukrainian army, Stohniy was forced to leave the ministry from April 1, 2024. His son Serhij (b. 1997), also serves at the front. Oleksiy Stohniy served as a machine gunner in a separate rifle battalion of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The priest died on 16 July 2024 in a combat mission near the village of Novoaleksandrivka in the Pokrovsky district of the Donetsk oblast.

Source: Khorol urban territorial community

44. Tkachenko Olexandr, Archdeacon of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (30.05.2022)

Olexandr Tkachenko is the oldest protodeacon of the Donetsk diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. In the 1990s he served as regent of the bishop’s choir of the St. Mykola Cathedral in Donetsk.

On May 30, 2022, he came under shelling near his home. He was mortally wounded, and died on the night of May 30-31.

Source: Information service of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church

45. Tsyba Viktor, reader, singer of the bishop’s choir (10.04.2024)

Viktor Tsyba, 51 years old, reader, singer of the bishop’s choir in the Transfiguration Cathedral in Bila Tserkva (Eparchy of Bila Tserkva of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church). He was the head of the bishop’s choir, worked for the publishing department of the eparchy, and studied at the Kyiv Theological Seminary.

After the start of the full-scale Russian invasion, he joined the Territorial Defense Forces of Ukraine on 15 March 2022.

During a combat mission in the Bakhmut district of the Donetsk oblast, he died on 10 April 2024.

Source: the UOC Eparchy of Bila Tserkva website.

46. Ulyanchenko Kyrylo, graduate of the seminary, reader of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (?.07.2024)

Kirill Ulyanchenko (b. 1999), a graduate of the Sumy Theological Seminary, an employee of the press service of the UOC Sumy eparchy, a reader and parishioner of the Transfiguration Cathedral in Sumy, an active member of the Orthodox Youth Centre.

With the beginning of Russian military aggression, Ulyanchenko joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He recorded a video message in defense of the UOC from the front.

Ulyanchenko died in Ivanovskoye near Bakhmut. Russian soldiers captured him after a tank attack. To their question, Who are you and what are you doing here?, he answered: We are here on our land.

Ulyanchenko’s body was identified in July 2024 and transferred home to Sumy for honouring and burial. The funeral service took place in the Transfiguration Cathedral in Sumy.

Source: Official website of the UOC Sumy eparchy

47. Vadym, novice of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church monastery (31.10.2022)

Novice Vadym is a resident of Liadovskyi Beheading of St. John’s rock monastery of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Vinnytsia region, Mohyliv-Podilskyi diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

On October 31, 2022, Russian troops launched a massive missile attack across Ukraine. In the Liadovskyi Beheading of St. John’s rock monastery at that time, a divine liturgy was performed. As a result of a missile attack, the iconostasis was damaged in the monastery, a chandelier fell down and windows were shattered, and the novice Vadym died from the blast wave.

Source: Mohyliv-Podilskyi diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church

48. Valuiskyi Volodymyr, regent of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (27.02.2022)

Volodymyr Valuiskyi, born in 1954, a native of Kharkiv. He studied at professional school No. 13, after graduating since 1979 he worked at the «Sickle and Hammer» plant as an electrician. He was a long-term reader, singer and, since 1996 regent of the small choir of the Holy Ozerianskyi Church in Kharkiv. He taught the Church Slavonic language and the Law of God at the children’s Sunday school at the church. Married, two daughters are students.

On February 27, 2022, he was returning after the Divine Liturgy by car, where together with him, there was the Nadvulychnyi family, husband, wife and three children, also parishioners of the temple. As a result of shelling by the Russian troops of the city, one of the shells hit their car. Everyone in the car was killed.

Source: Website of the Holy Ozerianskyi Church in Kharkiv

49. Varvara (Kysil), nun of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (01.06.2022)

Nun Varvara (civil name Kysil Svitlana), born in 1968, nun of the Lavra skit of the Sviatohirsk Lavra in honor of the icon of the Mother of God «Joy of All Who Sorrow» in the village Bohorodychne.

Born in village Zhyrychy, Ratnivskyi district, Volyn region, librarian by education. She was married to Kysil Mykola, two daughters – Anna and Yuliia. The latter became a novice in 2010 and in January 2015 took monastic vows with the name Maria in the Lavra skit in honor of the icon of the Mother of God «Joy of All Who Sorrow.»

In March 2012, Svitlana Kysil, after the death of her husband in 2011, moved to the Sviati Hory and entered the obedience in the skit of the village Bohorodychne. In 2015 she took monastic vows with the name Iulianiia, in 2017 she was tonsured into a mantle with the name Varvara. The skit was destroyed as a result of hostilities, moved to the Sviatohirsk Lavra.

Together with nun Varvara, another nun and several monks living in the monastery died.

Source: Portal «Orthodox Life».

50. Vonyfatii, hieromonk of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (31.01.2023)

Hieromonk Vonyfatii, 61 years old, resident of the Holy Dormition Mykola-Vasylevskyi Monastery (village of Mykilske, Volnovakha district, Donetsk region).

During the last months of hostilities, father Vonyfatii daily was in the church and every day he took confessions of the inhabitants of the monastery and parishioners. On January 31, 2023, the Holy Dormition Mykola-Vasylevskyi Monastery was subjected to shelling from large-caliber guns, which left through holes in buildings up to 1 meter in diameter.

After the liturgy, the priest moved from one building to another, but did not reach a few meters and was wounded by a shrapnel.

He was buried at the monastery cemetery, near the chapel of Fr. Alipii.

Source: telegram channel of the Holy Dormition Mykola-Vasylevskyi Monastery

51. Yurii, employee of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church monastery (13.01.2023)

Yurii (Heorhii), 59 years old, employee of the Holy Dormition Mykola-Vasylevskyi Monastery (village of Mykilske, Volnovakha district, Donetsk region), worked as a driver and performed other obediences, lived in the village of Mykilske with his family.

After the outbreak of hostilities, he refused to evacuate the monastery and the village, providing the monastery with everything necessary for life. Almost every day, out of obedience, he went out by car, risking his life, since the monastery had been located near the front line under constant shelling for 10 months.

On January 13, 2023, at 5 p.m. the monastery came under artillery fire, a shell exploded five meters behind Yurii’s back, shrapnel cut almost his entire body. After 15-20 minutes, the brothers found him, but they could not help. The injuries were incompatible with life.

Source: telegram channel of the Holy Dormition Mykola-Vasylevskyi Monastery

52. Zhuchenko Pavlo, Archpriest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (09.05.2014)

Pavlo Zhuchenko, 40 years old, Archpriest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church out of the staff, previously served in the church of St. Dmytro of the Don in the city of Druzhkivka, Donetsk region, married, three children.

On the night of May 8-9, in civilian clothes he drove very quickly a Mercedes car through the Kondrativka checkpoint, which alerted the armed separatists at the barricades. They demanded to stop, and when the driver did not react, they opened fire. Doctors found nine gunshot wounds on the priest’s body.

Source: Religion in Ukraine

Evangelical Christians

53. Bradarskyi Viktor, deacon of the Evangelical Christians Church (09.06.2014)

Viktor Bradarskyi, born in 1974, father of three children, deacon of the Evangelical Christians Church of the Holy Transfiguration of the Lord, Sloviansk. He was captured by militants, presumably the so-called “Russian Orthodox Army” on the holiday of Trinity on June 8, 2014, was tortured and was brutally killed the next day on June 9, 2014. Church member Volodymyr Velychko and the pastor’s sons Ruvim and Albert Pavenko died along with him. It was suggested that the reason for the murder was the food assistance provided by believers to the anti-terrorist operation participants.

According to Andrii Borylo, on the morning of June 9, the four detainees were put in a Chevrolet Evanda, the car of Viktor Bradarskyi. Volodymyr Velychko sat in front with him, the Pavenko brothers sat in the back. In the Mashmet area, in a deserted place, an explosion was heard and the car caught fire. Viktor managed to escape into the swamp, but they tried to catch up with him and shoot him in the reeds. Witnesses saw shots fired into the bush, but they could not find him. In the morning, he, already dead, was found on the road by a special team that collected corpses in Sloviansk.

Source: Information website Depo.Ua

54. Klimko Yuriy, pastor of the Jesus Christ Evangelical (Pentecostal) Church (28.02.2024)

Yuriy Klimko, pastor of the Jesus Christ Evangelical (Pentecostal) Church in Kupyansk, Kharkiv oblast, Ukraine. Klimko survived the Russian occupation, he was an active preacher. Since 2014, with his team, Klimko was active in pastoral ministry to the Ukrainian military personnel and helping their families.

On 28 February 2024, Klimko died in the explosion of a Russian FAB-500 aerial bomb dropped on the centre of Kupyansk. It hit an Evangelical church, residential buildings, and a cafe. At the time of the airstrike, Klimko was in the church. The worship in the church ended half an hour before the attack. The pastor’s wife was not hurt, although she was also in the church.

In mid-March, Klimko was expected to speak at the Evangelism in the Situation of War forum.

Source: Christians for Ukraine

55. Macharashvili Temury, chaplain of the Evangelical Christians Church, volunteer (28.04.2022)

Temury Macharashvili, chaplain of the Ukrainian Evangelical Church, Georgian on his father’s side, Ukrainian on his mother’s side, from a large family (12 children). Until 2014, the family lived in the city of Rovenky, which is currently part of the unrecognized Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR).

In 2022, after the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, together with his brother Ernest Macharashvili returned to Ukraine from abroad and was enlisted in a special forces detachment, serving as a chaplain.

Temury Macharashvili died on April 28, 2022 in the Zaporizhzha region. His brother, Ernest Macharashvili, died on October 13, 2022, in battles in the Kherson region.

Source: Religious-information Service of Ukraine

56. Mamedov Viktor (Vugar), member of the Gideon mission, Christians of Evangelical Faith (14.12.2022)

Viktor (Vugar) Mamedov, member of Gideon, the inter-church fellowship of Christians; father of four children, Evangelical Christian, 51 years old.

Following the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Mamedov volunteered for the Ukrainian army.

“The Lord called me to go into a combat zone to share his Word with the soldiers,” he told his relatives and friends. There was one soldier in particular, he said, who «joyfully took the Word of God into his heart and repented.» Former colleagues also said that Mamedov was a “ray of light” and that he inspired many to pray for repentance.

Mamedov died on 14 December 2022 near Bakhmut. The funeral took place on 22 December.

Source: The Gideons International

57. Pavenko Ruvim and Albert — sons of the pastor Olexandr Pavenko (09.06.2014)

Albert and Ruvim Pavenko, brothers born in 1990 and 1984 accordingly, the children of the pastor of the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord, Sloviansk, Olexandr Pavenko. They died along with church deacons Viktor Bradarskyi and Volodymyr Velychko. Their brother Yaroslav Pavenko also died as a result of the war, already in 2023, during Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The brothers were captured by militants, presumably the so-called “Russian Orthodox Army” on the Trinity day on June 8, 2014, were tortured and brutally killed the next day, June 9, 2014. It was suggested that the reason for the murder was the food assistance provided by believers to the anti-terrorist operation participants.

On June 8, the Transfiguration of the Lord community, the only Protestant one, opened its doors to celebrate the Holy Trinity. The day was completely inappropriate: NONA mortars were shooting near the building of another Good News church. At the end of the service, when the parishioners left, several ministers remained in the church. Militants from the Russian Orthodox Army group entered the room and arrested them. According to the head of the Church of Christians of Evangelical Faith of Ukraine, Mikhailo Panochko, the detainees were charged with a “crime against the Donetsk Peoples Republic (DPR)” — supporting the Ukrainian army.

According to other believers, during the siege of Sloviansk, the brothers took out refugees and fed the hungry. Perhaps this was the reason for the persecution.

According to one of the church members, after interrogation and torture in a cell set up in the city fire department, at 3 a.m. on June 9, 2014, the four arrested were ordered to get into a car and drive out of the city towards Mount Karachun. Those arrested were accompanied by two cars containing separatists. About an hour later, fire was opened on the car with the detainees. Albert and Ruvim climbed out of the back seats of the burning car with the door jammed. Albert got out first and was less burned. Gunshot wounds were found on his body, eight shots were fired at close range in the back. His brother Ruvim’s body was more severely burned and he also had gunshot wounds, six shots to the face. According to the witness, all shots were single. The bodies of the dead were found inside the car as a result of an attempt to simulate the death of passengers from mortar fire by the Ukrainian military.

Source: Information website Depo.Ua

58. Pavenko Yaroslav, pastor of the Evangelical Christians Church (04.02.2023)

Yaroslav Pavenko, volunteer and chaplain of the team of chaplains and volunteers “Eastern Angel” of the Ukrainian Church of Christians of the Evangelical Faith, son of pastor Olexandr Pavenko of the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord, Sloviansk, Donetsk region. Brother of Albert and Ruvim Pavenko, who died in 2014. He began his volunteer service in 2014, and since 2015, he has been the chaplain of the 26th Artillery Brigade named after Coroner General Roman Dashkevich.

A team of chaplains (three Pavenko brothers, Yaroslav, Volodymyr and Artur, Dmitryi Goshka and Volodymyr Streltsov) served near the village of Zarichne, near Lyman, Donetsk region. Their group came under fire from a multiple launch rocket system.

Volodymyr Streltsov, coordinator of the military chaplaincy ministry of the Ukrainian Church of Christians of the Evangelical Faith, talks about what happened: “We were hit by a Smerch. It happened that a shrapnel flew under Yaroslav’s body armor (we were properly equipped, with a helmet and armor). They rushed to him, everyone prayed. For some time, at the beginning and then on the way to the hospital, he was conscious and prayed with us. I will never forget the moment when Artur, holding his brother’s head, prayed like a chaplain. I think God gave us this time… The last thing Yaroslav said: “I’m going to Heaven!” And he passed away.»

Yaroslav Pavenko is survived by his wife and little daughter.

Source: Ukrainian Church of Christians of the Evangelical Faith website

59. Prokopchuk Anatolii, pastor of the Evangelical Christians Church (22.11.2022)

Anatolii Prokopchuk, born in 1970, deacon of the Evangelical Christians Church, philanthropist, father of seven children; his son Olexandr.

Anatoli was under Russian occupation in the Kherson region. Together with his son Olexandr, he was kidnapped by the Russian military on the evening of November 22, 2022. They were working in their garage, where armed Russians arrived and took the father and son in the direction of the neighboring village of Raiske in their friend’s car, a silver Honda Odyssey. Their bodies with signs of violent death were found in the forest near occupied Nova Kakhovka on the left bank of Kherson on November 26, 2022.

The deceased son Alexander was 19 years old.

Source: Hromadske

60. Skorobohach Serhii, pastor of the Evangelical Christians Church (14.06.2014)

Serhii Skorobohach, born in 1960, Pastor of the Protestant Church “Renewal”, Mariupol, devoted his life to caring for orphans.

The pastor was on a ministry trip and became an accidental victim at the post-bridge, when Ukrainian border guards were fired at from a grenade launcher and small arms. Terrorists mined and blew up a civilian car. The explosion occurred just at the moment when the pastor was driving next to this car in his car. He died on June 14, 2014 in Mariupol as a result of shrapnel wounds. He is survived by his wife and two children.

Source: Timenote

61. Tatishvili Mykola, pastor of the Evangelical Christians Church (13.08.2023)

Mykola Tatishvili, born 1952, pastor of the “Church of God” church, Pentecostal.

Minister since the early 2000s. Lived in Kherson, was under occupation. During the occupation, he preached to the military of the Russian army, and after the de-occupation to the Ukrainian military. Helped people, carried humanitarian aid.

He died on August 13 in Kherson in his private home after being hit by a shell during shelling by the Russian Armed Forces.

Source: Channel 7×70 News

62. Troian Valerii, chaplain of the Evangelical Christians Church (04.10.2022)

Valerii Troian is a chaplain and nurse from Zaporizhzha. Married, four children.

During the first phase of Russian aggression, he served as a nurse in the anti-terrorist operation for 2 years. After Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, he volunteered to join the Marine Corps as a nurse and chaplain.

He died on October 4, 2022 in the Kherson direction as a result of night shelling by Russian troops at the location of the Valerii’s military unit.

Source: Public

63. Velychko Volodymyr, deacon of the Evangelical Christians Church (09.06.2014)

Volodymyr Velychko, born in 1973, father of eight children, deacon of the Church of the Holy Transfiguration of the Lord, Sloviansk. He was captured by militants, presumably the so-called “Russian Orthodox Army”, was tortured on Trinity Day on June 8, 2014 and was brutally killed the next day, June 9, 2014. Deacon of the church Viktor Bradarskyi and the pastor’s sons Ruvim and Albert Pavenko died along with him. It was suggested that the reason for the murder was the food assistance provided by believers to the anti-terrorist operation participants.

On June 8, the Transfiguration of the Lord community, founded by Protestants, opened its doors to celebrate the Holy Trinity. The day was completely inappropriate: NONA mortars were shooting near the building of another Good News church.

According to Andrii Borylo, on the morning of June 9, the four detainees were put in a Chevrolet Evanda, the car of Viktor Bradarskyi. Volodymyr Velychko sat in front with him, the Pavenko brothers sat in the back. In the Mashmet area, in a deserted place, an explosion was heard and the car caught fire, and the rear doors jammed. Judging by the nature of the wound, Volodymyr died instantly from a fatal wound to the head. He burned down in the car and “there was very little left of him,” according to Andrii Borylo. Already during the de-occupation of Sloviansk, a mass grave was found, where 14 bodies were buried along with the Protestants. The remains of Volodymyr Velychko were determined as a result of exhumation and a lengthy forensic examination.

Source: Information website Depo.Ua

64. Yanovich Vadim, pastor of the Evangelical Christians Church, chaplain (13.10.2022)

Vadim Yanovich, administrator of the Kyiv Church «Victory», pastor of the Christian Church in Yahotyn, Kyiv region, chaplain of the «Donbass» battalion (call signs «Pastor», «Ensign»). Married, daughter.

At the front since 2014, he survived the Ilovaisk cauldron – the fighting that unfolded near the city of Ilovaisk, Donetsk region, during the Russian-Ukrainian war in August 2014. He was wounded, and returned to peaceful life. Shortly before the start of the full-scale invasion, he decided to return to the army and become a chaplain, one of the first to join the army on February 24, 2022. At that time there was no official law regarding the position of chaplain in the Armed Forces, he decided to sign a contract to serve as a chaplain, but registered as a soldier.

On October 13, 2022, he was blown up by a mine while leaving for a mission in the Kherson direction.

Source: All Together

65. Yershov Andrii, pastor of the Evangelical Christians Church (09.08.2022)

Andrii Yershov , pastor of the religious community “New Generation” in Kropyvnytskyi, Kirovohrad region, married, two daughters.

After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he volunteered to serve in the Ukrainian Armed Forces. According to his wife Olha, he was going to do this without taking up arms, but by providing other assistance to the Ukrainian army. According to other sources, he was a sniper. On August 9, 2022, he was mortally wounded near the village of Vodiane, Donetsk region, during a mortar attack.

Source: Suspilne

66. Zahorulko Vlad, graduate of the seminary of the Evangelical Christians Church (09.08.2022)

Vlad Zahorulko, student of the Lviv Theological Seminary of the Evangelical Christians Church 2017-2020.

He learned about the beginning of full-scale Russian aggression while on a bus on the border with Poland, got off the bus and the next day went to the military registration and enlistment office.

He died on March 29, 2023 during a mortar attack in the Bakhmut direction.

Source: Lviv Theological Seminary